Dec 8, 2009 | The Official Noynoy Newsletter
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I must laud the present administration. The recent declaration of Martial Law that has stifled our brothers and sisters in the south is by far the magnum opus of all its years of legal gymnastics and political manipulation. Congratulations, Madame President, you have proven to us by all measures you will stop at nothing to have your way. You have proven to us your desperation. The president has invoked the most heinous transgression of civil liberties upon her people. She has opened the real possibility of diminishing the crimes of rape and murder to mere and pardonable “rebellion,” if you may even call it that. The declaration of martial law opens a Pandora’s box of dangerous scenarios feared by political analysts, human rights lawyers and lawmakers. Real or perceived, these fears speak to one truth: the president of the democratic republic of the Philippines holds an iron fist over the country, and she won’t let us forget it. (What’s more, to deflect from this base political charade, her supporters have linked the Massacre to none other than Tita Cory, and accuse Noynoy and Mar of political impotence when as soon as the declaration was made they already made their stand known and immediately began the process of countering this transgression.) The queen of lies, deceit and powerlust has clamped down on democracy one time too many. We must make a stand: NO MORE! As Noynoy Aquino said, this is a time for all of us to be sober, discerning, vigilant and unafraid. The rule of law must prevail. It is the only thing that keeps our fragile democracy from falling into pieces. |
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Sabi ni Noy... | ||||
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Yellow, orange, green, blue or whatever color of the rainbow, let's all come together and join CNN Hero of the Year Efren Peñaflorida at the Konsierto ng Pagbabago! Let's meet at the foot of Ninoy Aquino statue on Ayala Ave on Dec 11, 4pm and help Efren push his kariton to the concert venue. See you there! »watch the invite
Confused about the automated polls? Yahoo Southeast Asia has made a handy video demonstration of how the polls will work in the upcoming elections. »watch it now
Desktop goodies, a tune for your phone, and lots of icons and artwork you can print out or use as your avatar while showing the world your support for Noy! »get a volunteer kit
Christmas is just around the corner! This season, deck the halls with boughs of yellow if you believe in a new Philippines. Yellow parols and Yellow Ribbons are available at the Aquino HQ at Parc House in EDSA, or text Jeff at Farmer's Market at 09061030295. »learn more
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Briefer on the declaration: »The Independent
Proclamation 1959: »read the full document Liberal Party Press Conference: »read the transcript Noynoy and Mar's statement: »read the statement
The Senate majority opposes it, but the Congress majority is for it. Both houses will meet at a special joint session Tuesday afternoon, which some say is too late. House Speaker Prospero Nograles, a staunch Arroyo supporter, earlier intimated that convening was not necessary. The constitution states that Congress must convene within 48 hours of the declaration. But given Arroyo's influence over Congress, pundits say it is likely they will uphold the decision. The Liberal Party, led by standard-bearer Sen Noynoy Aquino, suggested on Saturday that another avenue to repeal the declaration is to take the case to the Supreme Court, which any citizen can do. »Philippine Daily Inquirer
Critics cry foul over the declaration of Martial Law, calling it overkill, unconstitutional and a violation of civil liberties. They say that the proclamation may also be misinterpreted and misused. With a House subservient to Arroyo, lawmakers and human rights lawyers fear this would set a dangerous precedent with regards to the imposition of Martial Law on the rest of the country. Senators led by Noynoy Aquino, Mar Roxas and others have also aired their vehement opposition to the declaration.»GMA News
Supreme Court spokesperson Midas Marquez said Sunday that far from the "picture of a non-performing judicial system" Proclamation 1959 cited as a basis for the declaration of Martial Law in Maguindanao, local courts have in fact been functioning. Marquez cited that it was local courts that issued warrants of arrests on suspects, and a regional judge had also set some hearings for the main accused, Datu Unsay Mayor Andal Ampatuan Jr. He denied speculation that judges have gone on leave due to threats on their lives, some even working weekends. »Philippine Daily Inquirer
Congressmen and senators say that the administration's decision to file rebellion charges against the Ampatuans, which would be necessary to justify Martial Law, would only allow the Ampatuans to literally get away with murder. They cite two reasons: that there is no basis to accuse them of rebellion, because it did not happen, and that rebellion subsumes all other acts, including the massacre. Rebellion is also pardonable by the president. »Philippine Daily Inquirer
Senators and lawmakers are questioning the constitutionality of the recent declaration of Martial Law, citing that the Ampatuans are neither rebels nor invaders, and the constitution does not provide for "looming rebellion," as stated in Proclamation 1959. Sen Panfilo Lacson added that this may be a test case for martial law imposed on other regions during the 2010 elections. Frank Drilon posed: If the president can sustain something patently defective, what's next? Sen Aquilino Pimentel Jr also entertained the idea that the declaration could be a cover-up to erase evidence linking Arroyo to the 2004 electoral fraud. »Philippine Daily Inquirer
Rep Risa Hontiveros of the Liberal Party senate slate filed a petition on Monday to disqualify Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo from running for Congress in 2010, saying Arroyo is not even qualified to run for baranggay tanod. The constitution states that the president is not eligible to run for any re-election. This is the second such petition to disqualify the incumbent. »ABS-CBN News
A recent Pulse Asia survey shows that 79% of Filipinos will not back a presidential bet backed by Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. She is publicly backing her party's standard-bearer Gilbert Teodoro. The palace is brushing off the "kiss of death," saying Arroyo will give Teodoro free reign over his campaign, which has made efforts not to make Arroyo and Teodoro share a stage. But Sen Mar Roxas also said that Arroyo's bid for Congress shows she has "given up" on Teodoro's candidacy, prompting questions as to whom Arroyo is truly backing. »Philippine Daily Inquirer
Twice upon a time, God gave us two good leaders: Cory Aquino and Ramon Magsaysay, said Manila Archbishop Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales. Cardinal Rosales said voters should choose a president who would emulate these past presidents for their simplicity and humility. He added that there are candidates who make "self-serving" declarations of being devout Catholics, but you can truly tell who is God-fearing by the way they talk, in their attitude, and in their way of life. »Philippine Daily Inquirer
The last few months have been record-breakers for the Philippines. On the happy corner: Pacman and Efren. On the tragic corner: Maguindanao and the twin typhoons. And in the center of the farce we call Philippine politics: ousted president runs for president, incumbent president runs for governor in her continuing quest for eternal power. Rina Jimenez-David of the Inquirer maps out how the incumbent could possibly pull it off, and how the contenders for her current post would figure in this mess. »read more
The closer she comes to the end of her sort-of-legitimate reign in the Palace, the more GMA holds grasps onto power. Aside from the extension or re-declaration of Martial Law over all the land, there are other possible scenarios for her to retain power. Installing herself as Prime Minster is one, maintaing her clout over Congress is another, and of course, installing a president supportive of her (there are many ways, and many possible people, to achieve this). A powerful solution we can adopt, writes the Inquirer's Francis Valera, is to support the only candidate GMA is afraid of: Noynoy Aquino. Here's the why and the how. »read more
It seems like it's 1972 all over again. There is a debate in the halls of government and universities, in the marketplaces, on the airwaves: is Martial Law in Maguindanao justified? Whatever your stand, whatever your opinion, there is one clear verdict: This latest move by the president is as shocking as government is corrupt. Carlos Garchitorena likens it to a broken record of graft, corruption and abuse of power. Take a look. »read more
You have been weighed, you have been measured, and you have been found wanting. That's the sum of Asian Correspondent's Danny Arao as he takes apart Arroyo's (late) report to Congress on her grounds for declaring Martial Law. Arao gives the president's report a big red F for lack of facts and justification. »read more
Mindanao peace advocate Fr Jun Mercado, OMI, explains the history of warlordism in the Philippines, and the G's that govern it: Gold, Goons and Guns. He adds a fourth "G": Gloria. Contrary to mistaken reports, former president Cory Aquino did not install the Ampatuans in power. Here it is: the arrangement of the chessboard as it was the day of the Massacre. »read more
Confused about constitutional provisions for private armies (there are none), the creation of CAFGUs in the Aquino administration (it was very limited), and Arroyo's EO 546 (it allowed warlordism) and why Noynoy and Mar want the last one repealed? In sum, Aquino's EO 264 limited CAFGUs to highly selective members permitted to mobilize only under the direct orders of the president. Arroyo's EO 546 implicitly repealed EO 264 to allow almost anyone to join, and relegated their mobilization to local officials, creating fertile ground for warlordism. Florangel Braid of the Manila Bulletin explains. »read more
Public office is public trust, writes columnist and blogger Sonny Coloma. In parallel to Thomas Hobbes' theory of civic engagement, the Aquino-Roxas platform truly embodies a social contract -- a contract of society -- where everyone, leader or constituent, becomes accountable for the progress of the nation. "That is the essence of a social contract: a beacon of light, a carrier of hope, and an instrument of change." Coloma posits this is what sets Noynoy apart from his rivals: it is a commitment to the people, not to the incumbent, not to pride, and certainly not to self. »read more
If you have been ranking consistently far below any respectable digits on a presidential survey, what would you do? One might celebrate, quite relentlessly, an unscientific poll that favors, well, you (finally!). Never mind that the respondents are self-selecting and are not guaranteed to be registered voters, or in other words, an unrepresentative lot. In his Inquirer column, Manolo Quezon explains the folly of touting these mock polls as legitimate, and the folly of the poll itself. Let's put things in perspective. »read more
Here's a good question posed by eminent columnist Conrado de Quiros: How can you be for the poor if your whole campaign reeks of rich? While Manny Villar's message is laudable, even powerful, its problem is the messenger. The medium, unfortunately for Villar, is the message. And while it would be great to have a poor man from Tondo lift the masses from its impoverished state, Villar is no Bonifacio, argues de Quiros. The plebeian delivered the poor from the enemy. The politician joined the enemy. »read more
In a personal e-mail between friends, Fil-Am Robert Pantangco shares why he is supporting the Noynoy-Mar campaign. It's simple, really. In a tug of war between Love of Country and Love of Self, which side would you throw your full weight behind? In the end, Robert thinks it's a matter of heart. If your heart is in the right place, everything else will fall into place. »read more
Call for submissions: The little moments count. What's your Noynoy moment? We want to hear about it! In an original essay or blog entry, share with us what this election means to you. Inspire us! Send in your entries in English, Filipino or any dialect, and be heard on Noy News and NoyPipol. newsletter@noynoy.ph
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